I change the oil in both my vehicles and I always debate if I should stick to OEM filters or not. I prefer to err on the side of caution, it's why I run full synthetic oil, so if there is a better filter out there, I'd jump on it. I keep seeing the FRAM Ultra mentioned, but been hesitant with the FRAM name.

The F150 should be a Motorcraft 820S (unless a 6 cylinder, then a Motorcraft FL400S).Motorcraft filters are made by Purolator, and there have been many issues with Purolator made filters tearing (especially the 820s).

The Fram Ultra is one of the best filters out there. Excellent filtration and flow, solid construction with silicone ADV and wire mesh backed synthetic media, and priced below other equivalent filters. Nothing wrong with the Fram name, any (overblown) issues they may of had 20 years ago have been addressed, and the Ultra filter is the result of a lot of research.

While I quit using Fram filters for a long time (it was a cost for what you got issue for me, not a quality issue), I have no problems using them.I have a stash of filters, some being Fram Tough Guards that I got on clearance. If I ever go back to long change intervals, the Fram Ultra is at the top of my list.

Fram Ultra is at or near the top of a lot of lists. Royal Purple would be another solid one, but you pay more for The Color Purple (not the Oprah movie....).Consider the MicroGreen too; good construction, micro-filtering ability in a special path around the main media too.

The Fram Ultra "is at or near the top of a lot of lists" mostly due to the superior published filtration efficiency. Be aware that the microGreen (like a lot of filters) does not publish filtration efficiency. In that regard it is no better than a good-looking OEM filter. The "micro-filtering ability in a special path around the main media" has never been shown through any sort of data to be beneficial. That's not to say it doesn't work but microGreen has not published anything to show that it does.

AMAZON.COM or purchased through microgreen's own website are the only two ways I know to get MicroGreens. They sell to fleets too. They are built well, using a synthetic blend media, silicon ADBV, and the special microfiltering path is based on sound engineering principles of long-term oil filtering methods similar in concept to the Baldwin High Velocity Dual Flow oil filters for big trucks, but here available for passenger car use.

Going with an Ultra is a good idea too. There was an old thread on here where a Fram rep (motorking) said the Ultra can get 80% of 5-micron particles out, which is impressive and likely beats everything. MicroGreens with their basic sound design is the only one I would give credit for beating it, although difficult to verify unless we see particle counts in controlled experiments.

One would expect however that if they had numbers to prove the superior filtering efficiency of the microGreen filter they would publish them. Like Fram, when an entity has a superior product they tend to promote the fact, not hide it. The one number they do give on their website is utterly worthless.

At least they removed the claim of increased fuel economy, I'll give them that.

Wrong. Any engineer could devise an experiment to confirm what we see with our eyes in the filter construction. 4548-12 probably is not designed for the long term particle trap system, which is where the Fram Ultra oil filter gets its numbers. You are skeptical, fine, yet some of us can see the obvious benefits of parallel path oil filtering. Truck engines use that principle in some cases (Baldwin, others).

Wrong. Any engineer could devise an experiment to confirm what we see with our eyes in the filter construction. 4548-12 probably is not designed for the long term particle trap system, which is where the Fram Ultra oil filter gets its numbers. You are skeptical, fine, yet some of us can see the obvious benefits of parallel path oil filtering. Truck engines use that principle in some cases (Baldwin, others).

Sure, OK. One really wonders why they haven’t done this experiment if it’s something any engineer could do. Perhaps they have done it and the results aren’t quite as expected?

“Some of us can see.” Perhaps, but then some of us also see that there’s nothing to back up their claims nor yours. You and they can opine all you like about how it “should” work and how “obvious” it is and all that. But this is an oil filter after all and filtering data doesn’t come from those things no matter how arrogantly they are proclaimed.

It’s just odd that this filter which makes superior filtration as it’s primary claim doesn’t provide any test results to back that claim.